Population 25,975 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Marlboro County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Marlboro County
Household size in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Marlboro County run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.69, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Marlboro County are younger than 41.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.5, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Marlboro County (14.1%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Marlboro County
Renters in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.1% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in Marlboro County rent their homes (37.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in South Carolina overall (28.1%). Among homeowners, 76.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Marlboro County: 19.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Marlboro County was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in South Carolina as a whole, where the median home dates to 1991. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Of South Carolina's 46 counties, only three have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $523 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $562 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $642 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $740 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$217 | +$514 | +$606 |
Rent in Marlboro County runs $740 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $217 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Marlboro County
Bachelor's degrees in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Marlboro County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 9.1%, against 35.6% nationally. No other South Carolina county has a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.6% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.3% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Marlboro County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 10.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other South Carolina county has a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Marlboro County
| Period | Marlboro County | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Marlboro County runs well above the national rate: 10.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other South Carolina county has higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Marlboro County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlboro County | 2.51 | 41.3 | 14.1% | 37.0% | 19.9% | 1978 | $740 | 9.1% | 78.4% | 10.9% |
| Scotland County | 2.50 | 39.5 | 18.3% | 38.2% | 12.2% | 1981 | $829 | 16.5% | 82.4% | 10.8% |
| Chesterfield County | 2.51 | 42.3 | 16.1% | 27.2% | 15.7% | 1985 | $801 | 13.7% | 82.1% | 7.2% |
| Robeson County | 2.66 | 36.8 | 18.6% | 34.2% | 12.2% | 1985 | $816 | 15.1% | 80.3% | 5.8% |
| Bladen County | 2.54 | 44.2 | 13.9% | 30.8% | 21.2% | 1984 | $798 | 19.8% | 88.3% | 5.9% |
| Chester County | 2.48 | 42.6 | 14.7% | 21.6% | 11.2% | 1979 | $962 | 14.0% | 85.1% | 5.8% |
| Union County | 2.34 | 44.5 | 17.0% | 28.7% | 15.0% | 1971 | $821 | 14.7% | 82.0% | 7.2% |
| Onslow County | 2.56 | 31.2 | 10.4% | 36.3% | 13.5% | 1997 | $1,304 | 24.5% | 93.9% | 5.6% |
| Laurens County | 2.51 | 41.9 | 12.8% | 28.5% | 15.1% | 1984 | $877 | 17.8% | 83.6% | 4.3% |
| Carteret County | 2.17 | 49.1 | 6.2% | 25.3% | 24.5% | 1991 | $1,183 | 34.2% | 93.9% | 3.8% |
| Anderson County | 2.52 | 41.0 | 11.7% | 25.2% | 9.6% | 1987 | $1,073 | 27.4% | 88.3% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Young County, TX · Banks County, GA · Alcorn County, MS · Aguas Buenas Municipio, PR · Adjuntas Municipio, PR · Adams County, WI · Adams County, WA · Adams County, OH · Adams County, NE · Adams County, MS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Marlboro County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.